Regulations reducing the maximum emissions rate from surface casing vents for certain wells came into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. A new submission type has been added to the BCER’s eSubmission platform for permit holders of affected wells to notify the BCER of steps being taken to control emissions. Permit holders must notify the BCER at least seven days before undertaking any planned control measures.

This notification requirement supports the BCER’s broader methane reduction framework. The BCER has developed methane emission regulations to address the primary sources of methane from B.C.’s upstream oil and gas industry, including surface casing vents. These regulations also include methane emission reporting requirements for oil and gas operators. In addition, the BCER conducts approximately 4,000 inspections annually of oil and gas infrastructure; if unauthorized or “fugitive” methane emissions are identified, companies are required to address them.

Effective Jan. 1, 2026, section 41(4.02) of the Drilling and Production Regulation limits surface casing vent flow (SCVF) emissions to a maximum of 3 m³/day for any well that meets all the following conditions: 

(a) The surface casing is cemented to the surface; 

(b) The surface casing is set below the base of usable groundwater; and 

(c) The buildup pressure of the surface casing vent does not exceed one-half of the formation leak off pressure at the base of the surface casing. 

For a well that meets these three criteria, section 18(10) of the Drilling and Production Regulation allows permit holders to control emissions using one of the following methods:  

• installation of a burst plate on the surface casing vent with a maximum pressure that does not exceed 1/2 of the formation leak off pressure at the base of the surface casing;
• flaring emissions of natural gas from the surface casing vent, and
• routing emissions of natural gas from the surface casing vent to hydrocarbon conservation equipment.

Instructions for submitting the required notification are provided in section 5.6 of the eSubmission User Guide. Additional information on emissions control can be found in section 9.7.4 of the Energy Resource Activity Operations Manual.

If you have any questions regarding this Technical Update, please contact:

Linan Zhang
Senior Engineer, Production
BC Energy Regulator
250-980-6068
linan.zhang@bc-er.ca

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communications@bc-er.ca